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II 



Reminiscences of Colored People 
of Princeton, N. J. 

Copyrighted 1S13 by Anna Bustill-Smith. 

There are so few histories of colored 
people, so few records of their brave 
and honorable deeds in history, that I 
feel constrained to record a few facts 
relative to these people. It is only a 
cursory glance I can give — I could eas- 
ily enlarge the sketch to twice this size. 

We are proud when we read in NelFs 
^'Colored Patriots of the Revolution'' 
that Oliver Cromwell enlisted in a com- 
pany commanded by Capt. Lowrey, at- 
tached to the Second New Jersey Regi- 
ment, under command of CoL Israel 
Shreve. He was at the Battles of Tren- 
ton, Princeton, Brandywine, Mon- 
mouth and Yorktown. He was with 
the army at the retreat of the Dela- 
ware on the memorable crossing of De- 
cember, 1776, and relates the story of 
the battles of the succeeding days with 



iPiMTcmir^ ''' 



enthusiasm. Ha gives the details of 
the march from Trenton to Princeton, 
and told with much humor ^^that they 
knocked the British about lively at 
Princeton J^ His discharge (says Dr. 
McCune Smith) at the end of the war, 
was in Washington's oivn handivriting. 
He was very proud of it and often 
spoke of it. He received an annual pen- 
sion of $96 until his death, January 
24th, 1853, aged 100 years. Had he 
been white, every newspaper in the 
land v/ould have been eloquent in his 
praise. 

Henry Hill v/as also in the battle of 
Princeton, He Vv^as buried ' with the 
honors of war in 1833. 

Caesar Trent was well known here 
in 1804. Peter Polite, as Mr, Peter 
Scudder was called, accumulated some 
property and ovvned and conducted a 
confectionery on Nassau street, says 
Hageman. He died in 1848. 

Anthony Simmons was highly es- 



teemed. He was the leading caterer 
and his place of business was next to 
Princeton Bank. His will disposed of 
half a dozen properties and devised to 
the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church 
all the property at the corner of Green 
and Witherspoon streets, worth now 
about $7000, and gave a legacy of 
?500 to Princeton University. 

Joseph Ten Eyck, a Princetonian, 
was a celebrated caterer in New York 
city. He had a summer home at 256 
Nassau street. He died about 15 years 
ago, leaving an estate of $100,000. The 
largest legacy to Tuskegee Institute, 
from a colored person, was $38,000, 
from Mrs. Mary Hood Shav/, his adopt- 
ed daughter. Virtually his money. 

Gilbert Scudder, Sr,, operated a bar- 
ber shop on Nassau street, and rated 
professors among his patrons. 

Mrs. Catharine Scudder, his widow, 
is still an active, energetic v/oman, 
owning several properties. She is full 



of happy reminiscences, and is one of 
the oldest members of the Presbyterian 
Church. She brought with her, when 
a bride, the first piano owned by a col- 
ored family in Princeton. Her daugh- 
ter is a musician and elocutionist. Her 
sons are well-settled in business. Eu- 
gene conducts a second-hand clothing 
house on Baker street. Walter is a 
practicing physician in Philadelphia. 

Elias Hart owned and conducted a 
restaurant on V/itherspoon street. His 
widovv^ still owns and occupies the prop- 
erty. 

Sajniiel Onque and his brother owned 
a farm opposite. 

Mr. Hog gland purchased a lot from 
it on which he built his home. His 
widow was a great worker in the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Mr, John Voorhees was an elder in 
the Presb^/terian Church. He and his 
wife, Amanda, owned a comfortable 
home, 23 Quarry street. He left his 

4 



estate in the hands of Mr. Joseph 
Eruere. After the death of Mr. Voor- 
hees the church received $400 from the 

tto Lei Lc 

Elias Conover was for twenty-five 
years in the Seminary. Robert Hen- 
drickson and Charles V/hychoff have 
followed him. 

Philip Sciidder v/as for many years 
sexton at Cemetery. 

Isaox Stockton conducted a grocery 
store corner Green and Witherspoon 
streets. He was a shrewd and success- 
ful business man. 

Mrs. Margaret Stockton was quite as 
well known as Mrs, Craig, She and 
Mrs. Catharine Scudder are about ths 
last of Princeton\s colored aristocracy. 
Her daughter, Miss Martie Craig, was 
I an accomplished belle in her day. She 
was a great helper in the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Charles Craig was the pioneer hack- 
man, and his wife a famous ccok. Their 

5 



son, Prof, Walter Craig^ was New 
York's most famous colored violinist, 
and their daughter, Jestina, was school 
teacher and skilled pianist. 

The Gordons were a large and influ- 
ential family, like the Simpsons, Mr. 
Simpson was the pioneer second-hand 
clothes dealer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse V/illiams were 
the pioneer club-house keepers. Their 
numerous family still survive and re- 
side in the homestead on Harrison 
street. 

Mr. Thomas James wis a familiar 
figure for some years. He v/as related 
to one of the oldest and most aristo- 
cratic families in Philadelphia. In his 
earlv life in Princeton he was thriftv 
and prosperous. His children buried 
him quite recently. 

Mrs, Elon Berry is our "shut-in,'' 
but sends out sunshine. 

"Some are and must be greater than 
the rest." 



As early as 1S16 a Mr. Boardman, a 
colored student, was here. Many have 
since graduated from the Seminary. 
Revs. L. Z. Johnson and G. S. Stark 
received the degree of A. B. on exam- 
ination. 

Betsey Stockton was one of the first 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Hageman tells us ^'she was a woman 
of sterling qualities and an excellent 
teacher.^' She was the first colored mis- 
sionary to the Havv^aiian Islands and, 
on her return, taught school. One of 
her pupils, Mr, Thomas Schenck^ 
attended Lincoln University, graduat- 
ing in 1869. A bronze tablet to her 
memxory was recently unveiled in the 
Presbyterian Church by Mr. Weber, a 
former pupil. Gen. A. A. WoodhuU 
making the address. A stained glass 
memorial v/indow, the gift of her pu- 
pils, adorns the church and attests to 
her ability and their love. 

Rev. Chas. W. Gardiner was pastor 

7 



of the First African Presbyterian 
Church of Philadelphia for 12 years, 
and an early record says ''he was no 
mean expounder of the Word of God/' 
He was a man of high mental attain- 
ments. His preaching was eloquent, 
impressive and effective. H^e was ever 
regarded as a profound thinker and 
leading ecclesiastical. In 1857 he was 
invited by mj father, Joseph G. Bustill 
(then teaching there), to help form the 
First Golored Presbyterian Church of 
Harrisburg, Pa. He was pastor there 
several years. A fine portrait of him 
still hangs in the lecture room, evi- 
dencing their veneration for him. He 
spent the remaining years of his life at 
his hom.e, corner Green and V/ither- 
spoon streets. Dr. Ashbel Green was 
always interested in him and remem- 
bered him in his vdll. His grandchil- 
dren, Mrs. Till and Mrs, Boyer are still 
among us. 

Rev, Mahlon Van Horn was gradu- 

8 



ated from Lincoln University and, for 
twenty-five years, v/as pastor of a con- 
gregational church at Newport, R. I. 
He was appointed U. S. Consul at St. 
Thomas Island, and filled his position 
with honor to himself and with satis- 
faction to the Government. He died in 
office. 

V/ho could write of Princeton colored 
people and omit ^^ Uncle Jimmy John- 
son? ^^He was at one time the oldest 
person connected v/ith the university, 
because he had known Dr. Duffield 
S"S-since he was in kn-kn-knickerbock- 
ers/' He came here a fugitive slave, was 
recognized by a student and soon was 
fleeing from the dreaded slave catcher. 
Mrs. Provost paid the $1000 demanded 
and the students paid the cost of the 
sensational trial. Mr. Johnson often 
showed with justifiable pride his ac- 
count of the repayment of every cent 
He lived long to enjoy his freedom and 
was ever affectionately regarded by the 



> 



students. A granite stone "erected by 
graduates of Princeton University'' 
marks his grave. His widow was a 
woman of fine presence, cultured and 
refined. She died less than a year ago. 
James Titus, Sr,, v/ho owned his 
home on Green street, Vs^as for many 
years the trusted messenger of the uni- 
versity. His son, James, Jr,, was twen- 
ty-eight years gold melter and refiner 
for M. F. Cronin, Seventh and Sansom 
streets, Philadelphia. His son, James, 
III, owns several properties and resides 
in our town. His son, George P, Titus, 
was associated with his father till his 
death, when he succeeded him. He is 
now practical and consulting metalur- 
gist for the Deuber Watchcase Manu- 
facturing Co., Canton, 0. His son, 
James, IV, graduated from the high 
school and business college of Canton, 
and is his father's assistant. A son of 
James, HI, holds a position in the same 
company. 

10 



Rev, William D. Robeson was, for 
nearly twenty-five years, pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church. He was a gradu- 
ate of Lincoln University and Semin- 
ary. His many superior qualities of 
mind and heart won for him many 
friends and kept his work pre-eminent. 
He gave to Princeton the best years of 
his life, made many improvements in 
the church methods and church prop- 
erty. He is ever the defender of jus- 
tice—standing firmly for the rights of 
our race. He is a Christian gentleman. 
Two churches he has pastored since are 
gratified to have him help them so much 
— financially as well as spiritually. 
He is particularly successful in collect- 
ing funds. He has built one church and 
liquidated a large indebtedness on the 
other. He and his wife (M. Louisa 
Eustill (a Philadelphia school teacher), 
are of blessed memory to those who 
knew them. Their son, William Z)., Jr., 
is the only colored Princeton graduate 

11 



of the Trenton High School. A grad- 
uate of Lincoln University, studied 
medicine at University of Pennsyl- 
vania. Reeve is doing v/ell in Detroit. 
Bennie graduated from Biddle Univer- 
sity and is now in the seminary. Mar- 
ion graduated from Scotia and Paul 
Bustill is a member of the baseball, 
football and basketball teams and the 
Glee Club of Somerville High School. 

''Mom Steward is a class by herself. 
Always jolly, sensible and persevering. 

Mrs. Sa.rah Dillon is one of the oldest 
members of the Methodist Church. She 
has taught in the Presbyterian Sun- 
day-school more than 50 years. 

Her neighbor, Miss Mary Chetv, 
owns several Lytle street properties. 

Of our young people, Mrs, Annie 
Vanzant Moore and Mrs. Lillian Sciid- 
der Proctor, have taught in the Dublic 
school. Miss Eva Royster is our only 
graduate from the Trenton Art School. 
Leah Lake, Bertha Hall, Virginia 

12 



Smith Rhetta, and Ethel Vanzant had 
partial courses in Trenton High 
School. John Richmond, Bessie Moore, 
Marie French, Jenetta Watkins and 
loM/ra Gamer are the first colored 
pupils to enter Princeton High School. 
Several boys and girls are pursuing 
educational courses or following pro- 
fessions away from Princeton. Dr. J. 
E, Proctor is our only colored physi- 
cian. F. Louis Sperling our only law- 
yer and Justice of the Peace. 

The church music is of excellent char- 
acter, being in such skillful hands as 
Mrs, Blackwell, Mrs. Lambert and Mrs. 

^ The Hoaglands, Sorters, Millers, 
Vanzants, Schencks, Lakes, Skillmans, 
Scudders, Roysters, Hagamans, Con- 
overs, Van Horns, Eustices, Tituses, 
and many others were large and highly- 
respected families still represented. 

The Witherspoon Presbyterian 
Church is the most flourishing. It has 

13 



SEP 2 1913 



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